Looking to buy a repro hood tach for my '68 400. I'm running HEI w/ MSD 6AL and want a quality item. Not looking for concourse perfection. Can anyone recommend one? Ames? Classic Industries? NPD? Year One? Performance Years? So many to choose from...Thanks!
I just bought one from PY, very long story and still not sure why I bought from them. Nonetheless it has had major condensation issues since day one, you have to tap on it to get it to work and it is VERY dim (and yes, I have a good ground and an excellent power source). I'm guessing Ames sells the same brand, however, I'd feel a lot better about Ames taking care of this for me than I do PY...
was the PY one the OER brand tach? I am just installing one of those but it came with no wire diagram or instructions at all. It looks like quality item but won't know till it is running I guess. I got it from Clasic.
I bought mine from "The Parts Place" since most everyone thought they were the best. I don't have it installed but from the looks of it, I'm not impressed. The tach is held together by 10lbs of silicone and it only has one hole for a bulb. I dont have any others to compare, but for $200 I thought I would of gotten something more professional
My advise to you-- Buy a tach with thats set up for 2 bulbs. Theres been a lot of talk how it's hard to see at night. If your going to spend the money, go for the 2 bulb...
--Kyle
67 Verdoro Green 400 Front bench w/auto on column Now excepting- free, ready to bolt on, Pontiac Aluminum Heads... Thanks to John(Hammered)-- This project is REBORN!! http://s903.photobucket.com/albums/ac237/lupdiesel/
I bought a 69 version for my 68 (I liked the lower profile and black face) from the Parts Place a few years ago, but mine had 2 bulbs. I bought the "new technology" tach, not the direct reproduciton. I replaced the bulbs with LEDs and they are fairly bright. Now for the down side, I took mine apart so I could paint the housing. It has a gasket between the housing halves. Anytime it rains on the tach, it cuts out. Not sure if it is from me opening it up or not, but the next time I open it, it will most likely get 10 lbs of silicone. It was able to hook right to the MSD with no adapter which was a huge plus.
I know that washing and waxing my car with the present condtion of my paint is like polishing a turd.....but it's my turd and I want it polished!
National Parts Depot has a new one claiming to be a close reproduction. http://npd.dirxion.com/WebProject.asp?BookCode=bir09flx&from=2# I would want a two bulb unit for brightness. I don't recall where I saw one for sale that had a glass face and was sealed from condensation.
I just recently bought the steel-blue faced '68 version from the Parts Place. It has 2 bulbs and I am pretty happy with it.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
I'll have mine off in a few days and will take pics. As far as I know, NOBODY is making a two bulb unit at this time. I looked into this extensively and none of the suppliers carried them. It seems to me they are all carrying the same unit and selling for the same price etc.
The two bulb, original unit on my Bird worked from the day I bought the car to the day she was parted out. It worked perfectly with points, HEI and Pertronix all WITHOUT any additional parts etc. It lit up perfectly and it NEVER had ANY condensation problems. Looking back, that's the one part I wish I'd kept!
salmon- Is that Part #BP1142F?? I guess I should of done more homework before buying the 67 tach. Maybe they will let me swap out...yeah right!!
67 Verdoro Green 400 Front bench w/auto on column Now excepting- free, ready to bolt on, Pontiac Aluminum Heads... Thanks to John(Hammered)-- This project is REBORN!! http://s903.photobucket.com/albums/ac237/lupdiesel/
It's also strange getting used to the taller 67 style opposed to the lower/shorter one I had on my 68 Bird. I must say, I like the shorter 68 style better, although maybe that's because for 10 years I looked at the one everyday...
I have the one from Classic "OER". I don't have it on yet but it looks nice sitting in the box . It has two bulbs and the crank case heater nipple, although I did try and blow into the nipple and it was closed off. So I guess it is "sealed" and should never have problems. Ha ha. I think I have some pictures on my signature link.
salmon- Is that Part #BP1142F?? I guess I should of done more homework before buying the 67 tach. Maybe they will let me swap out...yeah right!!
You are going to want BP1141F for the black face for '67. I put in a complete set of '68 Rally guages with a matching console clock so I wanted the steel blue '68 face.
And these new design Part's Place tachs have a glass face and the heater connection nipple.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
1968 Pontiac 8000 RPM hood tachometer with 5200 RPM red line calibrated for V8 engine. This 2nd design "short" style tachometer features white markings, numbering, lettering, and Pontiac logo on a black background. The housing features a plastic lens, dual bulb illumination, factory style vent holes, plus an added feature from later model hood tachs, a hose nipple to attach a tube from the heater case supplying warm air to eliminate condensation, also includes wiring harness to connect it. It is one of the best Reproduction parts we have ever seen! (For use with breaker point type ignition system only. Modifications to heater case are necessary to install condensation tube.)
I am surprised that the parts place one had gobs of silicone. The reason I was looking at it was that they stated screwed assembly and 2 lites like the original.
I took my original non-working 67 tach and just had it completely redone with new guts by Redline Gauge Works . They restored and repainted the face and replaced all of the old insides with modern equipment. Thing looks 100% original but should work like brand new (its been tested, but I have not put it on my car yet). It hooks directly up to my HEI as well. It wasn't cheap as was around $400, but figured I would pay the extra and have my original tach working instead of paying $200 for a cheap knock-off.
Only problem is the original is also a single bulb and is dim, but I am looking to replace the standard bulb with a brighter LED and see how that works.
Is there any way to provide a test signal to these....I have a great original, but it jumps all over the place when connected to my Pertronics ignition, even with the proscribed 10,000k resistor in line. I have seen on some sites where a small circuit comprising of a resistor and a capacitor (which may dampen the peaks (?)) is constructed...may try that, but if I sell mine on eBay to get another I would want to ensure it is in fact working to at least a points set up....
My orig is a two bulb...I wonder if it is indeed original???
The Parts Place description on Ebay: New factory hood tach now available from The Parts Place. Made in the USA just like original GM, not like the cheap repros out there. Don't confuse our tach with the others out there that have copied our white outer shell. Back lit number/pointer design. Pointer will accept factory GM tach harness; all others have a generic harness. Also included - the factory harness and installation instructions. Also accept factory heater vacuum hose to tach, included in this auction.* Competitors don't have backlit pointer design, making ours superior to the others out there. A few quality points with our tach: 1) Has clear glass lens (not plastic that will discolor or scratch) 2) Accepts factory GM tach harness (not generic universal like the competitors) 3) Top and bottom are screwed together like factory (not silicone glued together like the competitors) 4) 100% like original in fit and finish 5) Can be connected to the dash light to be dimmed 6) Made in the USA with all new parts
I do have to say that the backlit pointer does make a difference. I had a hard time seeing my stock one at night with the old bulbs and non-lit pointer. I put LED bulbs in the Parts Place replacement tach that I bought (actually I put them in all the dash lights too. What a difference). It makes it nice and bright, but I can't use the dimmer with the LEDs. Mine did have the screwed together housing.
I know that washing and waxing my car with the present condtion of my paint is like polishing a turd.....but it's my turd and I want it polished!
Is there some way to identify if a repro tach will work with HEI by looking at it,i got mine off a fellow on ebay who bought it at ames and turned out not using it.He said it would work with HEI.I don't have it wired yet as the wiring harness didn't come with it. It is sealed on the bottom with silicone and has two lights.